Good Child Health System for Your Daycare Home
Every child care provider should establish a child health system in their home to help keep the infants and toddlers as healthy as possible. With this type of prevention, along with good child health nutrition, you can prevent many children’s health issues by following these important and fairly simple steps:
- If possible, take the children outside every day- of course this is weather permitting.
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- Clean all of your surfaces daily with a fresh sanitizing solution: Mix ¼ cup of bleach with 1 gallon of water, or you can use 1 tablespoon of bleach to a quart of water. This is an important step for your child health system. I use this solution to clean toys, my counter top, high chairs, door knobs, diapering mat, nap time mats, toilet seats, etc. Anywhere you feel sanitation is needed (and be aware- the bleach will discolor fabric/items permanently). I also use *Clorox Anywhere. Our child care food program recommends this, but it is pricey.
- Avoid using aerosol products… they leave a residual on the surfaces which could promote children’s health issues.
- If possible, open windows daily to air out your home, especially in the summer if you do not have central air conditioning.
- Keep the air temperature in your home between 65 and 72 degrees F.
- If your home is extremely dry (like mine is in the winter!) use a humidifier or cool air vaporizer. This is especially helpful when the little ones are coming down with colds and are stuffed up. Avoid using steam vaporizers – they are dangerous and could burn children if they get too close to them.
- For optimal child health nutrition and food safety in your home child health system, use your food preparation area only for food. Avoid placing germy items like your purse, diaper bags, and car seats on your counter tops. Think about areas they have been placed- yuck! You may want to give sanitize them while you’re at it!
Shirley R Wrong uses her counter tops to change diapers. Yep, flops the kid up there even during lunch!!! She says "its easier on my old back than using the floor, plus its right by the paper towels! 'Sides I always put newspapers down."
- Check to be sure that your fridge is working daily. Don’t take it for granted that it is! We had a fairly new one quit while on vacation and lost lots of food- $$$ and had to replace it- even more $$$!!! When you check on your refrigerator, be sure the temperature is below 40 degrees.
- Any garbage or trash should go into a container that is lined and has a lid. I sanitize these every time I change the bag as part of my child health system.
- Have your potty/diaper area near a second water source- not near your food preparation – again avoiding children’s health issues.
- If possible, separate where you children sleep from where they do other activities. Wash all blankets and pillows weekly- mats daily.
- Don’t use your baby cribs as an area to store things when not in use.
- If possible keep each child’s jacket and their personal items all separated so they won’t contaminate each other.
- When infants/toddlers drop their binkies, be sure to wash immediately and don’t allow others to put in their mouths.
Other Child Health Issues You Need to Deal With
As a care giver, you need to be aware that parents may ask you about “my child’s mental health”.
Child Mental Health Services
as well as child health information is available to child care providers when you have concerns.
Acid Reflux in Infants
and
Baby Acid Reflux
Some people believe that baby acid reflux is only in sickly infants, but most babies who have it are otherwise healthy.
Something as simple as
Severe Diaper Rash
is part of the health system you are responsible for as a child care provider. Many times the system begins with you and how you react and treat the issues that come up will determine how healthy your child care will be.
Following these important steps in your own child health system will ensure that you are doing your best to promote good health, child health nutrition, and avoid children’s health issues!
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